Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheet'sSheet 11 =W. JOHNS ON.

UAR COUPLING Patented Feb. 10, 1891.

oz YVITWiSSES h I t/ (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. W. JOHNSON. GAR UOUPLING Patented Feb. 10,1891.

g v l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JOHNSON, OF PENN YAN, NEW YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,147, dated February 10, 1891. Application filed June 21, 1890. Serial No. 356,240. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM JOHNSON, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Penn Yan, in the county of Yates and-State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in car-couplings.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple, durable, and efficient car-couplin g that will couple cars automatically, and that may be readily uncoupled without the necessity of incurring the risk and danger of getting between the cars.

My invention consists, briefly, in a novel construction of draw-hook or pin, the said draw-hook being rotatable in a circular plane upon a fixed center or axis extending transversely through the buffer or draw-head of the coupling, the said draw-hook being located in relation to the center upon which it rotates in such position that the pulling strain thereon will not tend to norcause the said drawhook to turn or rotate in the direction to uncouple the cars, and in its further adaptation and of the several parts composing the coupling, as will be more fully hereinafter described and set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical horizontal section through the center of my improved car-coupling. Fig. 2 is also a vertical horizontal section designed to show the parts in an uncoupled position. Fig. 3 is a face or front View of my improved car-coupling. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the rotatable draw-' hook shaft or body of myimproved car-coupling, taken on the plane indicated by the dotted line w 00 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a front view, and Fig. 6 a plan view, of the same. Fig. '7 is a plan View of the coupling-link of my improved car-coupling, and Fig. 8 is an edge or C is the rotatable shaft or body, of which the draw-hook or pin a and stop 17 form an integral part and rotate therewith.

D is a plate or casting hinged or pivoted to the draw-head by the pivot-shaft p, and adapted to be pressed down by the spring 6.

E is the coupling-link.

G and G are levers solidly attached to the rotatable shaft O for the purpose of rotating the draw-hook.

h is a lever adapted to lift the plate D for the insertion of the coupling-link.

t is the abutment-spring plate for the link E to abut against, and which is held in place by the screw g.

S is aretaining-spring attached to the opcrating-lever G and to the body of the car or coupling.

It will be observed that the salient or distinctive feature of my invention is the rotatable draw-hook or pin, the adaptation and construction of which is clearly discernible from an inspection of the drawings. It will be seen that the draw-hook or pin a, which directly sustains the strain or pressure of pulling the cars, is located below or upon one side of the center of the shaft 0, upon which it rotates, in such manner or position that the strain upon the said draw-hook, no matter how great, will not and cannot cause it to move or rotate in the direction to uncouple the cars, but that the tendency from said strain is in the opposite direction, and which is prevented by the interior shoulder b of the buffer-casting A. It will also be seen that a material feature of my improved draw-hook is the shelf or body of C, which extends in front of the hook ct, and upon which the end of the link is supported, and which is adapted to lift the link up the hook, and thus to facilitate the uncoupling of the cars.

In carrying out my invention the shell or casting A, and which is adapted for both buffer and draw-head, is perforated or bored transversely through, and the cylindrical part of IOO the coupling to the varying heights of the cars. The plate or casting D is pivoted to the d rawhead A and forms the downwardly-inclined plane or link-guide, and is also adapted, in conjunction with the spring e, to push the link down over the hook and to retain it in a horizontal position when the cars are uncoupled.

The coupling link E has broad cuniform or wedge-shaped ends, and is otherwise of the ordinary construction. .The link abutmentspring tis required to have but little flexibility, and is adapted to be removed and re newed when worn out. The back part of the draw-hook a is beveled and forms a part of the upward mouth-incline or link-guide. The shaft 0 is coupled to the end of the drawhook shaft 0 and extends to the side of the car, and is adapted by means of the lever G to uncouple the cars from the ground. Suitable connections can also be made to uncouple from the top of the cars. The spring S is adapted to return the draw-hook to'a coupled position and to retain it thus against the jar of the cars and to resist the careless or accidental handling of the lever, by which the V cars might become uncoupled.

11in". 'bc n held and suspended in a horizontal position and adapted to slide up or down inclines for the purpose of coupling cars automatically. I do not, therefore, claim such as my'invention.

In the drawings I have shown the rotatable draw-hook of my improved car-couping located below the center upon which it is rotatable as being the natural and desirable position. It is evident, however, that by re versing the entire coupling and changing the operating-lever the same results could be obtained. It will thus be seen that my invention is susceptible of various modifications in its practical application. I do not, therefore, limit myself to the-precise form or construction as shown herein.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a car-coupling, the described rotatable draw-hook or pin a, the point or end of which is at or near the center of rotation, and the body of which extends outward from the said center, and which is adapted to receive the pulling strain thereon between the said center of rotation and the periphery of the supporting-shaft or body 0, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination of .the described rotatable shaft 0, adapted to be planes, one of which is fixed and the other movable, as described, and the shoulder 19 in combination with the described rotatable draw-hook a, shaft 0, and stop I), as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination of the described buffer or draw-head A, perforated as described, the described draw-hook a, rotatable as described, the coupling-link '13}, adapted to engage with the said rotatable draw-hook, the pivoted mouth-plate or casting D, and the springs e and t, as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a car-couplingadapted to couple cars automatically, the combination of the described buffer or draw-head A, perforated as described, the described shaft 0, draw-hook a, and stop I), rotatable as described, the coupling-link E, adapted to engage with the said rotatable draw-hook a, as described, the pivoted mouth-plate D, adapted to operate as described, the pivot-shaft P, the springs e and t, the screw g, the shaft 0, the levers G G, the spring S, and draw-bar B, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM JOHNSON. lVitnesses:

WARREN C. STONE, THOS. D. VEALE. 

